News briefs

Boulder Creek restraining order shot down
A judge has denied a restraining order filed by Boulder Creek’s Denese Matthes against Boulder Creek Recreation and Parks District janitor Christian Kropp. Matthes, a longtime watchdog of Boulder Creek Recreation, filed for the restraining order Jan. 26 after she claimed that Kropp crossed over a double-yellow line while driving a truck at 70 miles per hour and making an obscene gesture Jan. 12 in Boulder Creek. The incident, according to Matthes, was the latest in a string of similar incidents against her over the past three years.
After two hearings in Santa Cruz Superior Court, Judge Timothy Volkmann ruled that the restraining order will not stand but that Matthes is not responsible for paying Kropp’s legal expenses, as the recreation district’s attorney had requested. Matthes contends that the district should not pay those expenses, because the restraining order was aimed at Kropp as an individual, not as an employee of the district.
Felton serial killer denied parole
Herbert Mullin, 63, was denied parole by the California Board of Prison Terms in a Feb. 17 hearing at Mule Creek Prison.
Mullin, a San Lorenzo Valley High School graduate, admitted to killing 13 people in a four-month period in 1972 and 1973, including some in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. He was convicted of 10 murders in Santa Cruz County.
District Attorney Bob Lee argued last week that Mullin should never be released from prison in any circumstance, because of the horrific crimes.
At the hearing, according the district attorney’s office, Mullin continued to partially blame others, including friends and relatives, for the murders.
“It is clear that Mr. Mullin is incapable of morally and intellectually taking responsibility for these crimes,” Lee said in a prepared statement.
The parole board extended Mullin’s sentence for another 10 years. He will be eligible for parole again in 2021.
Feedback needed on conservation blueprint
The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County has asked the community to comment on its recently completed Conservation Blueprint for Santa Cruz County.
The blueprint assesses the county’s natural resources and recommends ways to protect and enhance those resources.
The blueprint represents two years of work and includes information from more than 110 consultants.
For information: www.landtrustsantacruz.org.
Environmental grants available
The San Lorenzo Valley Water District is accepting grant proposals for educational projects in the San Lorenzo River watershed.
Grants of as much as $2,500 each, plus $500 for outreach, are available to students, teachers, groups and individuals for education, environmental restoration and enhancement work in the local watershed.
The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. March 9.
Application guidelines and grant requirements can be found at www.slvwd.com or at the district’s offices, 13060 Highway 9 in Boulder Creek.
For information: Betsy Herbert, bh******@***wd.com; or 430-4627.